Untangled: Regional Workshop on Ghost Gear in the East Asian Seas

Date: March 1-3

Location: Bangkok, Thailand and Online

Venue: United Nations Conference Center

Aim: This workshop is designed to review existing measures for addressing marine litter from ‘ghost gear’ or abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in the East Asian Seas region. Participants will share best practice measures for prevention, recovery and management of ghost gear for replication, discuss relevant national and international efforts and frameworks including on gear marking, and identify region-specific challenges, opportunities and priority needs. 

The workshop will increase understanding and awareness of ALDFG issues and create a network of like-minded actors to exchange ideas, inspire further change and inform the next steps to be taken towards the development of national plans and interventions and regional mechanisms for harmonization and coordination. The two-day workshop is followed by a half day field trip to visit artisanal fishing communities and recycling businesses addressing ghost gear.  

Target participants: COBSEA’s Ministries of Environment and Fisheries Departments, Community representatives, tech organizations and NGOs working in ghost gear prevention and also gear processing, 

Partners: The workshop is co-hosted by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) as a hybrid meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. The workshop is supported by the Government of Canada Ghost Gear Fund.    

The Environmental Justice Foundation is an international non-governmental organization working globally to protect natural environments and the human rights of people who depend on them. EJF is a charity with offices around the world including in Belgium, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and the UK. www.ejfoundation.org  

If you are interested in participating, please email COBSEA at cobsea@un.org